Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 1

@garysibi (702)
Chicago, Illinois
August 16, 2019 12:00pm CST
One argument used to cast doubt on the resurrection of Jesus is to say that He didn't really die on the cross but just sort of passed out. This is called the swoon theory. Is it possible? Prior to being nailed to the cross, Jesus was beaten and whipped. The whip had pieces of metal and bone tied to the end so that they dug into His back and ripped the flesh. A crown made of long thorns was jammed down on his head. Jesus hung on the cross for about 6 hours. A person being crucified can't breathe unless they push up with their feet. His feet were nailed to the cross making that extremely painful. A Roman soldier stuck Jesus in the side with his spear and water ran out. That would mean that the spear pierced the sac surrounding the heart which would have killed Him if He were not already dead. A Roman soldier declared Jesus to be dead. Soldiers were used to seeing dead people. They knew when someone was dead. Jesus was wrapped and covered with burial spices. This would have weighed in the neighborhood of 100 pounds. Jesus was put in a tomb, a cave, and a stone large enough to cover the door was placed in front of it. The tomb was placed under the guard of 16 Roman soldiers who would be burned to death if they failed in their mission. According to the swoon theory Jesus came to, got out of the funeral wrappings, pushed a stone that would have weighed about two tons (Luke's gospel says it was a bit uphill), overcame 16 Roman guards who would have been fighting for their lives and come out of it looking like a rock star. Give me a break!
6 people like this
4 responses
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Aug 19
I believe in the Bible 100%. However, arguing these points with non believers will get us nowhere I feel like. We know God is a supernatural being and our minds CANNOT understand His ways. Only our hearts can understand once we are His children. In order to be convinced of what the Bible says they really need to see the love of Jesus, walked out in front of them-by us believers. That's where the convincing will take place I think. =)
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@garysibi (702)
• Chicago, Illinois
16 Aug 19
Listening to a talk on the evidence for the resurrection by Josh McDowell back in 1973 made a believer out of me. I was an atheist at the start of the talk.
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@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
16 Aug 19
Yes, very difficult to reason with non believers!! Some things are spiritually discerned!!
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• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Aug 19
@garysibi Well that's awesome!! Praise God! I know from my experience most people tell me they have no proof so they don't believe. Then there's no convincing I can do except be an example for them of our Father. =)
2 people like this
• United States
16 Aug 19
Yes give me a break too. How could anyone survive all that?
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@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
21 Aug 19
The Bible tells things as they happened and I have no reason to doubt the Bible accounts.
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@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
22 Aug 19
@garysibi Yes, that is true about personal conviction based on serious and honest research! Yes, the resurrection is a convincing proof of the reliability of the Bible. If the resurrection was a hoax then why would so many be willing to face the opposition and hatred of their neighbours and an Empire and be willing to sacrifice their lives for a lie? My early experiences in a religious school led me to be angry at God and doubt his existence based on certain events. When I was nineteen and in university I started to seriously look at life and did some extensive research and came to appreciate the beauty and truthfulness of the Bible and have not stopped examining it from every angle and have held onto the belief that it really is the word of God and that Jesus is the son of God.
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@garysibi (702)
• Chicago, Illinois
21 Aug 19
I agree with you but not everyone has experienced the truth of Scripture the way you and I have. I used to be an atheist. I was brought to the truth by way of a talk on the evidence for the resurrection.
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@garysibi (702)
• Chicago, Illinois
22 Aug 19
@1hopefulman I also lost my faith in a Christian school. My teachers started casting doubts on parts of the Bible and thought that there were parts which weren't trustworthy, how could I trust any of it. It was a talk on the historical accuracy of the resurrection which brought me back.
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@db20747 (43440)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
16 Aug 19
For us believers, yes it did!! There is evidence of the Bible everywhere!!
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@garysibi (702)
• Chicago, Illinois
16 Aug 19
True but a lot of non-believers get suckered in by the swoon theory. When I was in high school there was a very popular book called The Passover Plot which proposed it. A lot of people bought into it.
1 person likes this